Vinexpo event to take place in New York this March

The Vinexpo New York event will take place on 4-5 March 2019 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, with a schedule including panels, masterclasses and international exhibitors.

The “What is a Craft Spirit?” panel on 5 March will focus on the craft spirit trend, and will be led by Jeffery Lindenmuth, the executive director of Whisky Advocate. Other expert panelists include Paul Hletko, past president of the American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA) and founder of Chicago’s FEW Spirits, which specialises in small-batch bourbon whisky, rye whisky, barrel gin and American gin, and Monique Huston, the Winebow Group‘s national spirits director.

There will be a masterclass exploring the lesser-known wine region of Côtes du Bordeaux, and will be led by Yannick Benjamin, the renowned New York City sommelier. The masterclass will introduce its attendees to Côtes du Bordeaux’s five appellations – Blaye, Cadillac, Castillon, Francs and Sainte-Foy, where family-owned estates produce exceptional wine. There will be a tasting of six wines, including blends of red and white, and single-varietal red, presented by their producers.

Attendees can expect a lineup of quality exhibitors, such as A-Wines Spain & Portugal with its 50 family-owned bodegas that have gained international attention for the quality and value of their wines. They will join Diva Bordeaux to exhibit a range of Bordeaux and Spanish wines. A-Wines will feature new launches such as Hoffman sauvignon blanc from Jumilla in southern Spain, D.O. Rioja from Alavesa, and a selection of organic and vegan wines from Valencia, Jumilla, Rioja and Almansa. Diva Bordeaux will showcase some of the best Grands Crus from Bordeaux as well as interesting boutique wines from small châteaux.

Robinson & Sinclair, the South African exporter, will return to the expo, as Cyril Meidinger, the company’s wine sales executive for Americas and Africa, says, to take advantage of: “The purchasing power and willingness to try different and new wines that’s unique to the States.”

They will be featuring wines from well-known appellations like Stellenbosch, but also upcoming  regions like Swartland and Wellington, which produce fruit-driven wines that will fit well in the US market. They will launch an exclusive range aimed at millennials, including wines named The Blushing Bride Rosé, The Golden Shower Chardonnay, and The Morning Glory Syrah.

Vinexpo New York will collaborate with the Wine Business Institute at Sonoma State University (SSU) to produce an exhibitor education program focused on market entry into the US beverage alcohol market. Their goal is to help exhibitors navigate the complexities of working in the US market, to prepare them for exhibiting at the expo, and to cover topics such as the basics of the US market, to legal issues, and route to market strategies.

Registration is open now.